Bosansky continues winning run as Unruh adds European Games crown

Florian Unruh and Jozef Bosansky of Slovakia won continental crowns as Unruh and Dan Olaru qualified Olympic quota places for Germany and Moldova on the last day of competition at the 2023 European Games in Krakow.

The two tickets to Paris 2024 were resolved early, with two Spanish archers making the final four.

Miguel Alvariño had already qualified a recurve men’s spot for the next Olympics for Spain by winning the mixed team competition in Poland. It meant that Unruh and Olaru took the remaining tickets by winning their quarterfinals.

“I had the qualification in the back of my mind,” admitted Olaru, stonefaced. “I’ll wait for official confirmation, then I’ll celebrate.”

That confirmation won’t come until after the Hyundai Archery World Championships in August.

No such wait for today’s champions.

“It’s one of my biggest wins,” said Unruh… “Now Paris can come.”

“Of course, I expected that I might be able to win,” said Unruh after his 6-2 victory over 2015 European Games Champion Alvariño. “But you cannot count on anything in [this division].”

Neither in the compound event.

Defending title holder and world number one Mike Schloesser lost in a last-eight shoot-off with a worse 10 (after tying with Marco Bruno on 148 points for the 15 arrows).

This is not a year to rest on past laurels. This is a year of the hot hand… Jozef Bosansky.

The 47-year-old took his first career win earlier in 2023 at the Hyundai Archery World Cup season opener in Antalya, and continues to build on that success. He was two points up after six arrows in every match in Krakow and never struggled – eventually cruising past Bruno in the final, 148-146, to take the multisport trophy.

“The final? it was great… because I won,” he said. “I didn’t imagine winning the gold before I came here. It’s my son’s birthday today, he’s 16, so this one’s for him.”

Podiums: 2023 European Games

Full results on the Krakow 2023 European Games page.

Recurve men

1. Florian Unruh, Germany (Olympic quota)
2. Miguel Alvariño, Spain*
3. Pablo Acha, Spain*

*Olympic quota already secured in mixed team event. The second quota place for the Paris 2024 Olympic Games was awarded to Moldova, courtesy fourth-placed finisher Dan Olaru.

Compound men

1. Jozef Bosansky, Slovakia
2. Marco Bruno, Italy
3. Emircan Haney, Türkiye